Collapsible recessed display stand



Jan. 9, 1951 w. H. SCOBLE COLLAPSIBIQE RECESSED DISPLAY sum:

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 22, 1949 INVENTOR.

Jan. 9, 1951 w. H. SCOBLE COLLAPSIBLE RECESSED DISPLAY STAND 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22, 1949 76 INVENTOR. Ill/mun $004915 PatentedJan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE RECESSED DISPLAYSTAND William Henry Scobie, Jericho, N. Y., aaaignor to Einson-Freeman00., .Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of DelawareApplication July 22, 1949, erial No. 106,241

My present invention relates generally to collapsible display devices,and has particular reference to a knock-down cardboard structure fordisplaying articles of merchandise and the like.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a collapsiblestructure which may be manufactured inexpensively, of fiat cardboardstock, and which is stable and staunch when set up for Another object isto provide a structure which may be conveniently collapsed into asubstantially flattened condition, for purposes of storage and shipment,and which is easy to adjust into set-up condition without calling forany special skill. tools, or extraneous elements.

The device is esentially a display table, when set up for use, and isintended primarily for the support and display of merchandise in retailstores. However, certain phases of the invention are not restricted toany specific type of use.

The improved device consists essentially of a supporting structureformed of upstanding walls, and a table-top which fits snugly within theupper part of the supporting structure. Among the features of theinvention are the way in which the supporting structure is rigidified bythe tabletop, and the manner in which the table-top may be firmlysupported at a level slightly below the upper edge of the supportingstructure, thereby providing an upstanding peripheral rim which helps toretain the displayed merchandise in p0 sition.

Severalways of achieving these general objects and advantages, and suchother objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointedout,,are illu trated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a preferred cardboard display table ofthe pre ent improved character. shown in set-up condition;

Fig. 2 is a plan view. on a reduced scale, of the single element ofcardboard of which the device of Fig. 1 may be con tructed, if desired;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing one way of collap in the structureof Fig. 1 into a fiattened condition:

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line H ofFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views similar to Fig. 4 showingmodifications of the structure, respectively; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary end views of a modified constructionshowing how the device may be locked in set-up condition.

Where the device is composed of a single blank of material. the blank iscut and shaped to define the hingedly connected panels and parts shownmost clearly in Fig. 2. Preferably, the supporting structure issubstantially rectangular in horizontal cross-section when the table isset up.

Accordingly, the cardboard blank shown in Fig.

2 defines four hingedly connected substantially rectangularpanels M, ii,i2 and ii. The panels i0 and i2 are substantially the same in size, andwhen the device is set up, these panels define end walls. The panels iiand ii are also of equal size, and are adapted to define upstanding sidewalls. The connecting hinge lines i4, i5 and Ii define vertical edges ofthe supporting structure. Hingedly connected to the free edge of thepanel ID, as at H, is an attachment flap it. During manufacture of thedevice, this flap is permanentlv secured to the free edge of the panell3, by means of staples, adhesive, or the like.

When the structure is set up, it rests upon the aligned lower edges I9of the upstanding walls.

Each of the end walls i0 and I2 is provided with a notch 20 in its upperedge, preferably at substantially the mid-point of the edge.

Hingedly connected to the upper edge 2| of the panel I i is a panel orelement divided by hinge lines 22. 23 and 24 into adjacent panels orsections 25, 28, 21 and 28. A similar set of panels 29, 20, 3| and 32are associated with the upper edge 22 of the side wall i3.

Each of the panels 21 and 28 is relatively narrow and is slightly longerthan the adiacent section 26. The same is true with respect to thepanels SI and 32 in relation to the section 30.

When the device is ready to be set up for use, the panels H), II, l2 andi3 are first adjusted into the open relationship shown in Fig. l. Thesections 25 and 29 are then turned downwardly to lie fiat against theinner surfaces of the corresponding side walls ii and IS.

The sections-26 and 30 const tute two parts of a table-top. The panels21 and 28 are doubled upon themselves alon the line 24, and are alsoturned along the line 23 to lie in a substantialLv vertical plane. Inthis disposition, they define a rigidifying rib extending longitudinallywith respect to the table-top. The ends of this rib constituteextensions which fit snu ly into the corresponding notches'20. The anels3! and 32 are similarly adiusted and constitute a rigiditying rib. Theextensions at the ends also fit into the corresponding notches 20.

To facilitate and enhance the firm engagement of these extensions withthe notches 20, each extension is provided with a slot or opening 24, todefine a downwardly-opening notch which interlocks with thecorresponding end wall when the extension is fully fitted into the endwall notch, as shown in Fig. 1.

The disposition of the table-top below the upper edge of the support ngstructure, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 4, rigidifies the entiredevice, since the table-top is so shaped that it fits snugly within thespace defined by the upstanding walls, and these walls are therebyretained in proper relationship and are braced by the table-top. At thesame time, the table-top is Ipvided with an upstanding peripheral flangeor rim which helps in the eihcient support of the mhandise to bedisplayed. And not only does "I longitudinal rib stiffen and strengthenthe table-top to a highly eii'ective degree, but its extended ends serveas convenient handles by means of which the device can be lifted orshifted from place to place, even when loaded with merchandise.

In collapsing the structure for purposes of shipment or storage, severalalternatives are available. As shown in Fig. 3, the end walls In and I2may be folded inwardly along pre-formed hinge lines 35, to form aresultant body whose length is no greater than that of one of the sidewalls II and i3, and whose height is no greater than one of these sidewalls plus the width of the panel 25. Or, if the end walls It and 12 areto be left uncreased, the structure could be folded along hinge lines l5and H (or I4 and i6) to form a flattened mass having a length equal tothe combined lengths of one of the side walls and one of the end walls.

In manufacturing the device, it is not essential that the table-topsections be integral parts of the blank of which the supportingstructure is formed. Thus, while I have shown the panels and I i interally connected along the hinge line 2|, and the panels 28 and i3integrally connected along the hinge line 33, it may under certaincircumstances be des rable to form the table-top sections of separateelements, and to establish the hinged relationship by suitable staples,adhesive, or the like.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a possible modification of the structure in whichthe table-top is formed of a single element 36. At its midportion, thiselement is provided with parallel ad acent panels 31 which are broughtinto superposed relationship to constitute a rig difying rib, the endsof this rib forming extensions which fit into the corresponding slots 38in the end walls 39. The opposite sides of the element 36 are adhesivelyor otherwise secured as at 40 to the upper edges of the upstanding sidewalls 4| of the sup orting structure. The table-top element 36 includessections 42 which lie fiat against the corres onding side walls H, asshown, when the table is set up.

In the structure shown in Fig. 6. each of the end walls 39 necessarilyhas a medial hinge line back panels 59 and defining a stiffening rib,and the section 58 has similar doubled-back panels Bi and 62 defining astiffening rib. When the structure is set up, the sections 51 and 58align themselves in a single plane (Fig. 9) and the panels 59, 60, GIand i2 conJointly form a medial stiffening rib for the table top. Thisrib has end extensions which fit into corresponding notches in the endwalls. One such end wall 54 is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and it is to beobserved that the notch 55 is provided with downwardly facing shoulders56. A similar notch is formed in the opposite end wall. As a result,when the rib extensions are pushed down into these notches, a latchingeffect is automatically produced, 1. e., due to the inherent resilienceof the cardboard, the panels 59 and 62 tend to spread into V relation tothe panels 60 and 6|, respectively, and there- 4 the notches in the endwalls even when grasped to lift the structure, unless the panels 59 and62 are deliberately pressed together again to clear the shoulders 56.This helps to retain the device firmly and staunchly in set-upcondition.

In general, it will be understood that the details herein described arein many respects merely illustrative, and that changes in these detailsmay be made by those skilled in the art without necessarily departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new-and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible cardboard d splay table comprising four hingedlyconnected panels adapted 43 to permit a collapse similar to that shownin Fig. 3.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the tabletop consists of an element44 having the medial sections 45 which define a stiffening rib. The endsof this rib are extended, as before, to fit into the correspondingnotches 46 in the end walls 41. One side ed e of the element 44 isfolded upwardly to define the panel 48, corresponding to the panel 42 ofFig. 6, and a hinged securement is established at 49 with the upper edgeof the side wall 50. At its opposite side edge, the element 44 isnormally disconnected from the supporting structure, and is providedwith a relativel narrow panel 5i adapted to fit into a second notch 52formed in the upper part of the end wall 41, closely ad acent to theside wall 53. The panel 5i constitutes a second stiffening rib, and itis extended at its ends so as to fit into the corresponding notches 52when the device is set up.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a table-top like that of Figs. 1-4,composed of complementary sections 51 and 58. The section 5! hasdoubledto define a substantially rectangular supporting structurecorristing of upstand ng side and end walls, each of the end wallshaving a notch in its upper edge, and a table-top fitting snugly withinthe space defined by said walls and provided with a a longitudinalstifie'ning rib, said rib having extensions at its opposite ends whichfit snugly into said end-wall notches respectively, each rib extensioncomprising two hingedly connected panels whose inherent resilience tendsto separate them into V relation, each end-wall notch being shaped todefine at least one downwardly-facing shoulder beneath which one of saidpanels interlocks when the rib extension is fitted into said notch.

2. A collapsible cardboard display table comprising hingedly connectedpanels adapted to define upstanding walls, at least one of said wallshaving a notch in its upper edge, said notch having a downwardly-facingshoulder, and a table-top element carried by at least one of the otherwalls and provided with a rib adapted to be inserted downwardly intosaid notch, said rib comprising a resilient part which snaps intolatching engagement beneath said shoulder dur- The following referencesare of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,776,071 Howath Sept. 16, 19301,881,224 Nuckols Oct. 4, 1932 Carmichael Feb. 27, 193}

